Display package with foldable legs, and method for converting the package for display

ABSTRACT

A display package with foldable legs, and a method for converting the package from a shipping arrangement to a display arrangement without removing the contents of the package are provided. The display package can be a blister package, a clam shell package, or a similar package containing product such as cosmetics. To convert to the display arrangement, a portion of the package is removed, and the legs are folded approximately perpendicular to the package to provide adequate support and display the product contained in the package.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a display package containing productsuch as cosmetics, and more particularly to the display package havingseparable portions and a plurality of foldable legs, which isconvertible from a shipping arrangement to a display arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blister packages and clam shell packages are generally known, where suchpackages can be configured to hold different types of products. Atypical clam shell package is made of plastic, which enables productcontained therein to be visible through the outer packaging. Thus, clamshell packages typically are sold in a retail environment withoutremoving product from the package.

With regard to cosmetic products, certain cosmetic products can bedisplayed at a counter or tabletop in a retail store, and are availablefor sampling by customers. Typically, packages containing one or morecosmetic products are shipped to the retail store, and the products areremoved from the packages along with any supporting material. Then theproducts, and possibly the supporting material, are arranged fordisplay, sampling, and/or sale on a countertop or tabletop by asalesperson. Although the packages received by the retail store may besuitable for shipping, conventionally such packages are not directlyconfigured for display, and thus require removal of the packagecontents, i.e., the cosmetic products and any supporting material.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,680 to Israel et al. discloses a package or displayfor cosmetic material, where the cosmetic material is provided on asupport element and covered with a peelable protective film. Such apackage is useful for accessing the cosmetic material, but does not makeany special provision for display.

U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2006/0278651 to Appelbaum et al.discloses a blister package made of plastic and including a card cover,in which hinged retainer portions of the package are rotated to securethe card in place. However, the package does not make any specialprovision for display.

It would be desirable to provide a display package such as a clam shellpackage or blister package containing product such as cosmetics, thepackage being easily convertible from a shipping arrangement to adisplay arrangement, in particular, for use in a retail salesenvironment. Further, it would be desirable to provide the displaypackage that is convertible from the shipping arrangement to the displayarrangement without removing the contents of the package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A display package with foldable legs, and a method for converting thepackage from a shipping arrangement to a display arrangement isprovided. The display package can be a blister package, a clam shellpackage, or any similar package containing product such as cosmetics. Inparticular, the package has a provision for display, for example, thepackage has foldable legs and a removable shipping portion, so that thepackage can rest on the legs for display on a counter or table in aretail environment. For example, the legs can be received in a trayconfigured to hold a plurality of products and/or packaging material fordisplay. By providing at least the foldable legs and the removableshipping portion, the package can be converted appropriately from ashipping arrangement to a display arrangement without removing thecontents (i.e., the cosmetic product or other product) from the package.

According to the present invention, a package for containing product caninclude at least a bottom portion including a compartment for receivingthe product; a top portion having a cover configured to be connectedwith the product compartment, the top portion being removably attachedto the bottom portion; and a plurality of legs operably connected to thebottom portion, the legs being foldable along a plurality of fold lines.The package can include a plurality of tabs on the top portion forreceiving the bottom portion. The package can be convertible from ashipping arrangement in which the top and bottom portions are foldedtogether to a display arrangement in which the top and bottom portionsare unfolded, the top portion is removed from the bottom portion, andthe legs are folded along the plurality of fold lines. Further, thebottom portion can form a horizontal plane, and the legs foldedapproximately perpendicular to the horizontal plane in the displayarrangement. Additionally, the top and bottom portions can be separatedby a fold line or a score line, and the top portion can be removed fromthe bottom portion by tearing along the fold line or score line.

A method for converting a package from a shipping arrangement to adisplay arrangement can include steps of: providing the package with abottom portion including a product compartment and a plurality of legsconnected to the bottom portion by a plurality of fold lines, and a topportion having a cover configured to be connected with the productcompartment, such that the top and bottom portions are folded togetherin the shipping arrangement; unfolding the top and bottom portions;removing the top portion from the bottom portion; and folding the legsalong the plurality of fold lines to form the display arrangement.

A cosmetic package can include at least a bottom portion including aproduct compartment holding at least one cosmetic; a top portion havinga cover configured to be connected with the product compartment, the topportion being removably attached to the bottom portion; and a pluralityof legs connected to the bottom portion by a plurality of fold lines,wherein the package is convertible to a display arrangement fordisplaying the at least one cosmetic held in the product compartment byremoving the top portion via the score line, and folding the legs alongthe plurality of fold lines.

Other aspects and embodiments of the invention are discussed below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and desired objects of thepresent invention, reference is made to the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figureswherein like reference character denote corresponding parts throughoutthe several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a display package configured in a displayarrangement with legs folded for display, and a top portion of thepackage removed;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the display package of FIG. 1 in ashipping arrangement in which the top and bottom portions are foldedtogether and closed;

FIGS. 3A to 3C are various views of the display package of FIGS. 1 and 2having a single circular-shaped product compartment according to a firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A to 4C are various views of a display package having a singlerectangular-shaped product compartment according to a second preferredembodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 5A to 5C are various views of a display package having a pluralityof circular-shaped product compartments according to a third preferredembodiment of the present invention.

DEFINITIONS

The instant invention is most clearly understood with reference to thefollowing definitions:

As used in the specification and claims, the singular form “a”, “an” and“the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

As used herein, the terms “blister package” and “clam shell package” areused interchangeably, and refer to any plastic packaging material usedfor holding product, the product being at least partially visiblethrough the package.

As used herein, the terms “cosmetic product” refers generally to anytype of product capable of being contained in the package, and is notlimited to products conventionally considered “cosmetics.”

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A display package and a method for converting the package to a displayconfiguration are provided according to the present invention. Thepackage preferably includes multiple portions or panels, at least oneportion being removable to facilitate conversion into the displayconfiguration. At least one remaining portion of the package preferablyincludes one or more legs attached thereto by fold lines, such that thelegs can be folded along the fold lines and rotated to be approximatelyperpendicular to the package, thereby supporting the package in thedisplay configuration. The display package can be a blister package, aclam shell package, or any similar package containing product such ascosmetics. However, the type of product(s) contained in the package isnot limited according to the present invention. Preferably theproduct(s) contained in the package do not require removal from thepackage when the package is converted to the display configuration.

The display package preferably includes a top portion and a bottomportion connected by a fold line, score line, or the like, such that thetop and bottom portions are folded together in a shipping arrangement,and can be unfolded with the top portion removed and discarded in adisplay arrangement (i.e., the display configuration). Further, in thedisplay arrangement, a plurality of legs attached to the bottom portionpreferably are folded approximately perpendicular to the bottom portionfor supporting the package. In the display arrangement, productcontained in a product compartment of the bottom portion is heldupright, so that the bottom portion rests on the legs, where the legsare generally perpendicular to a horizontal plane defined by the bottomportion. In certain embodiments, the legs are sized to fit withincorresponding holes of a display tray or other display arrangement, suchthat when the legs are arranged perpendicularly to the horizontal planeof the bottom portion, the legs can fit within the holes, channels, orcut-outs of the display tray.

By providing the foldable legs and removable top portion, the packagecan be converted appropriately to the display arrangement withoutremoving the contents (i.e., the cosmetic product or other product) fromthe package. The present invention also encompasses a method forconverting the package from the shipping arrangement to the displayarrangement.

A display package 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, where FIG. 1 depicts thedisplay package 10 in a display arrangement, and FIG. 2 depicts thedisplay package 10 in a shipping arrangement. Referring to FIG. 1, thedisplay package 10 preferably includes at least a bottom portion 12 anda top portion 14, the top portion 14 being removably connected to thebottom portion 12 by a fold line 20 (see FIG. 2). The fold line 20 canbe a conventional fold line, a score line, a perforated line, or thelike, optionally including a feature such as indentations orperforations to facilitate separating the top portion 14 from the bottomportion 12.

A first preferred embodiment of the display package 10 will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a blankused to form the display package 10 is shown, where the blank preferablyis made of plastic, e.g., PVC, styrene, or like material. The blank canbe made of any plastic material to facilitate complete or partialviewing of product contained in the package. The plastic materialselected for use in the package can be transparent or tinted/coloredplastic material. The display package 10 of FIGS. 3A to 3C preferablyincludes the bottom portion 12 and the top portion 14 separated by thefold line 20.

A product compartment 22 is provided in approximately a central regionof the bottom portion 12 of the display package 10, the productcompartment 22 configured to receive and hold any type of product, forexample, a cosmetic product. The product compartment 22 is depicted inan open state in FIGS. 3A to 3C, so that product can be placed in theproduct compartment 22 before the top and bottom portions of the package10 are folded together. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3A to 3C, the productcompartment 22 is generally circular in shape, although other shapes arepossible, including rectangular, square, triangular, or any otherregular or irregular shape. A cover 24 is formed in the top portion 14,the cover 24 generally conforming to the shape of the productcompartment 22. In other words, the product compartment 22 and the cover24 preferably are formed as complimentary elements such as enclosures,as shown in FIG. 3A, so that the product will be contained between theproduct compartment 22 and the cover 24 when the top and bottom portionsare folded together, preferably without leakage of the product to otherportions of the display package 10.

The display package 10 includes one or more legs operably connected tothe package. Preferably at least two legs 16, 18 are provided along thesides of the bottom portion 12 of the package 10. As shown in FIG. 3B,for example, a first leg 16 is connected to the bottom portion 12 by afirst fold line 26, and a second leg 18 is connected to the bottomportion 12 by a second fold line 28. The legs 16, 18 preferably arefoldable with respect to the bottom portion 12 along the fold lines 26,28, respectively, when the top portion 14 is removed from the package10.

The legs 16, 18 are each formed with at least one rib 30, for example, araised portion or a depression formed in the legs 16, 18 to providestructural strength to the package 10, where the ribs 30 preferably areprovided in the bottom portion 12 of the package, and additional ribs 32are provided in the top portion 14. The ribs 30 and 32 preferablyimprove structural integrity of the package without interfering withclosing of the package in the shipping arrangement or display of thepackage in the display arrangement.

The second and third preferred embodiments of the present inventiondiffer from the above-described first preferred embodiment by providinga different shape and/or number of product compartments.

Referring to FIGS. 4A to 4C, according to the second preferredembodiment, a product compartment 122 and corresponding cover 124 aregenerally rectangular in shape. In other words, a package 110 accordingto the second preferred embodiment is capable of accommodating productof a different shape, i.e., rectangular, as compared to the firstpreferred embodiment. Otherwise, the package 110 is generally the sameas the package 10 of the first preferred embodiment. For example, thepackage 110 includes at least a bottom portion 112 and a top portion114, the top portion 114 being removably connected to the bottom portion112 by a fold line 120. One of more legs, for example, legs 116 and 118are provided along the sides of the bottom portion 112, the legs 116 and118 being foldable with respect to fold lines 126 and 128, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 5A to 5C, according to the third preferredembodiment, instead of a single product compartment and correspondingcover, a plurality of product compartments with respective covers areprovided. In FIGS. 5A to 5C, four separate product compartments 222 areincluded on a bottom portion 212 of the package 210, and fourcorresponding covers 224 are included on a top portion 214 of thepackage 210, although any number of product compartments and respectivecovers could be provided. Otherwise, the package 210 is generally thesame as the previously described packages 10 and 110. Preferably the topportion 214 is removably connected to the bottom portion 212 by a foldline 220. One of more legs, for example, legs 216 and 218 are providedalong the sides of the bottom portion 212, the legs 216 and 218 beingfoldable with respect to fold lines 226 and 228, respectively.

A method for converting the package 10 from the shipping arrangement tothe display arrangement will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and2. A blank according to any of the above-described embodimentspreferably is filled with product and closed, where a closed package isdepicted in FIG. 2, which corresponds to the shipping arrangement. Forexample, referring to FIGS. 3A to 3C, prior to closing the package 10,product can be placed in the product compartment 22. Then, the topportion 14 is folded over the bottom portion 12, so that the cover 24covers the product compartment 22, with any product being contained inthe enclosure between the product compartment 22 and cover 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, after the top and bottom portions of the displaypackage 10 are folded together, the bottom portion 12 preferably isclasped to the top portion 14. In particular, the top portion 14includes a plurality of tabs 40, 42 for receiving an end of the bottomportion 12. The tabs 40, 42 can be crescent-shaped cuts made in the topportion 14, or any other suitable shape or design for receiving andholding the bottom portion 12. Thus, as depicted in FIG. 2, the displaypackage 10 is provided in the shipping arrangement.

To convert the display package 10 from the shipping arrangement of FIG.2 to the display arrangement depicted in FIG. 1, the bottom portion 12of the package is unclasped from the tabs 40, 42, and the top portion 14is unfolded from the bottom portion 12. Subsequently, the top portion 14preferably is removed from the bottom portion 12 by tearing the topportion 14 along the fold line 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the top portion14 has been separated from the bottom portion 12. The top portion 14 cannow be discarded.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the legs 16, 18 are folded alongcorresponding fold lines 26, 28 from a position approximately parallelto a horizontal plane defined by the bottom portion 12 to a positionapproximately perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the bottomportion 12. The display package 10 of FIG. 1 is shown in the displayarrangement, in which product contained in the product compartment 22can be displayed by placing the bottom portion 12 of the display packageon a flat surface such as a countertop. Alternatively, the legs 26, 28can be received in corresponding holes, channels, or cut-outs of a trayor other display arrangement. In the display arrangement, the bottomportion 12 rests on the legs 26, 28, which generally support the bottomportion 12, and thus support the display package in the displayarrangement.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedusing specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposesonly, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The entire contents of all patents, published patent applications andother references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated hereinin their entireties by reference.

1. A package for containing product, comprising: a bottom portionincluding a compartment for receiving the product; a top portion havinga cover configured to be connected with the product compartment, the topportion being removably attached to the bottom portion; and a pluralityof legs operably connected to the bottom portion, the legs beingfoldable to a position approximately perpendicular to the bottom portionto support the package.
 2. The package of claim 1, further comprising aplurality of tabs on the top portion for receiving the bottom portion.3. The package of claim 1, wherein the package is convertible from ashipping arrangement in which the top and bottom portions are foldedtogether to a display arrangement in which the top and bottom portionsare unfolded, the top portion is removed from the bottom portion, andthe legs are folded along the plurality of fold lines.
 4. The package ofclaim 3, wherein the bottom portion forms a horizontal plane, and thelegs are folded approximately perpendicular to the horizontal plane inthe display arrangement.
 5. The package of claim 3, wherein the top andbottom portions are separated by a fold line or a score line, and thetop portion is removed from the bottom portion by tearing along the foldline or score line.
 6. The package of claim 1, wherein the package isconverted into a display arrangement by removing and discarding the topportion, and folding the legs along the plurality of fold lines.
 7. Thepackage of claim 6, wherein the legs are folded approximatelyperpendicular to the bottom portion in the display arrangement.
 8. Thepackage of claim 1, further comprising at least one rib arranged on thebottom portion, and at least one rib arranged on the top portion, theribs providing structural strength to the package.
 9. The package ofclaim 1, wherein the product compartment is circular or rectangular. 10.The package of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion includes a pluralityof product compartments, and the top portion includes a correspondingplurality of covers.
 11. A method for converting a package from ashipping arrangement to a display arrangement, comprising the steps of:providing the package with a bottom portion including a productcompartment and a plurality of legs connected to the bottom portion by aplurality of fold lines, and a top portion having a cover configured tobe connected with the product compartment, such that the top and bottomportions are folded together in the shipping arrangement; unfolding thetop and bottom portions; removing the top portion from the bottomportion; and folding the legs along the plurality of fold lines, thelegs being folded to a position approximately perpendicular to thebottom portion to support the package in the display arrangement. 12.The method of claim 11, wherein the legs are folded approximatelyperpendicular to the bottom portion.
 13. The method of claim 11, whereinthe bottom portion forms a horizontal plane, and the legs are foldedapproximately perpendicular to the horizontal plane in the displayarrangement.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein in the shippingarrangement, the top and bottom portions are clasped together.
 15. Apackage for holding cosmetics, comprising: a bottom portion including aproduct compartment holding at least one cosmetic; a top portion havinga cover configured to be connected with the product compartment, the topportion being removably attached to the bottom portion; and a pluralityof legs connected to the bottom portion by a plurality of fold lines,wherein the package is convertible to a display arrangement fordisplaying the at least one cosmetic held in the product compartment byremoving the top portion from the bottom portion, and folding the legsalong the plurality of fold lines to a position approximatelyperpendicular to the bottom portion to support the package.
 16. Thecosmetic package of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of tabs onthe top portion for receiving the bottom portion.
 17. The cosmeticpackage of claim 15, wherein the top and bottom portions are separatedby a fold line or a score line, and the top portion is removed from thebottom portion by tearing along the fold line or score line.
 18. Thecosmetic package of claim 15, further comprising at least one ribarranged on the bottom portion, and at least one rib arranged on the topportion, the ribs providing structural strength to the package.
 19. Thecosmetic package of claim 15, wherein the product compartment iscircular or rectangular.
 20. The cosmetic package of claim 15, whereinthe bottom portion includes a plurality of product compartments, and thetop portion includes a corresponding plurality of covers.